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July 31, 2025: Bill Russell, Drex DeFord, and Sarah Richardson preview their upcoming show changes while tackling critical CIO challenges. They discuss "CIO escape rooms"—high-pressure scenarios such as your EHR vendor going out of business or handling a 3 AM security breach. How do healthcare IT leaders navigate the treacherous waters of CEO transitions, and what's the real difference between a wartime and peacetime CIO? The conversation turns to compensation strategy for a hospital system, examining whether geography or specific leadership "phenotype" should drive salary decisions. They explore what CIOs would prioritize with unlimited budgets, from infrastructure overhauls to real-time data platforms, while questioning who truly deserves the CIDO title in an industry where keeping the lights on battles against driving transformation. Key Points:03:45 CIO Challenges and Escape Room Scenarios06:52 New Podcast Channels and Formats14:03 Real-Time Data Governance and ROI15:51 Automation and Patching in Health Systems17:47 Hiring and Compensation for Health System CIOs20:56 The Role and Value of a good CIDOsX: This Week HealthLinkedIn: This Week HealthDonate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 30, 2025: Marco Casale, Systems Integration Architect at the University of Rochester, and Drew Ivan, Chief Architect at Rhapsody, join Bill to discuss healthcare interoperability. What would happen if these critical integration platforms suddenly went down, and why does even Epic need hundreds of external connections to keep hospitals running? The discussion covers the evolution from HL7 V2 to FHIR standards, how the pandemic necessitated the massive scaling of data exchanges, and the ongoing challenge of integrating disparate healthcare systems to communicate. Key Points: 03:10 Interoperability and Integration Solutions 10:27 Automation in Healthcare 11:07 Integration During the Pandemic 18:57 Future of Healthcare Integration X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Drex covers three critical cybersecurity threats impacting healthcare and beyond: North Korean operatives using deepfakes and stolen identities to infiltrate US companies as remote workers, the Allianz life insurance breach affecting 1.4 million customers through social engineering attacks, and the TTEA dating app's massive data exposure that compromised women's safety information. Essential insights on vetting remote employees, defending against social engineering, and app security risks.Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Even cyber pros have technical issues sometimes – our camera caught a bug, but the audio is clean and packed with security insights! July 28, 2025: Aaron Heath, CISO and Cybersecurity Counsel at the Medical University of South Carolina, and Brian Zegers, Information Security Officer at Lee Health, discuss a variety of security topics. The conversation takes a turn when both leaders address their growing concerns about AI's rapid evolution from helpful tools to autonomous agents with privileged network access. How do you prepare for ransomware recovery when your backup strategies have blind spots? And what happens when AI agents start operating independently within healthcare networks? As these security leaders balance innovation with protection, they ask: Are we moving too fast with AI automation, and how do we secure technologies that are changing faster than our security frameworks can keep pace? Key Points: 03:08 Brian's Ransomware Recovery Initiative 08:41 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity 13:47 Talent Recruitment Strategies 17:48 Career Journeys in Cybersecurity 21:32 Fun and Personal Insights X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 28, 2025: Jacob Hansen, Chief Product and Technology Officer at AvaSure, examines how healthcare is shifting from siloed departments to cross-functional journey teams. How are these collaborative approaches finally breaking through traditional barriers that have slowed healthcare innovation? The conversation explores the emerging world of agentic AI while grappling with where automation enhances care versus where the human touch remains irreplaceable. As ambient clinical documentation technology gains traction and physician acceptance, Jacob shares insights from AvaSure's virtual care maturity model and reflects on what patients actually want from healthcare technology. Can incremental implementation build the trust needed for widespread adoption, and will AI finally serve as the equalizer that brings healthcare innovation up to speed with other industries? Key Points: 03:17 Virtual Care Maturity Model 08:13 AI Agents in Healthcare 16:31 AI for Clinical Documentation 24:04 Closing Thoughts and Future Tech News Articles: How journey teams transformed IT at Ochsner Health AI Agents Are Coming To Healthcare Abridge Secures $300M Series E Led by a16z to Pioneer a New Paradigm of Care Intelligence X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 24, 2025: Theresa McDonnell, Chief Nursing Executive and SVP at Duke University Health System, discusses how she maintains her clinical practice while leading strategic transformation across a billion-dollar organization. What specific changes helped Duke reduce nurse turnover from 21% to 11%? Theresa discusses her role in orchestrating the complex $1.7 billion merger that created the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and shares how Duke's innovation hackathons have engaged over 10,000 frontline staff. As healthcare faces mounting workforce shortages and an aging population, what role should AI play in enhancing rather than replacing human care? The conversation explores practical approaches to empowering healthcare workers and how the future of care is centered on preventing sickness rather than just treating illness. Key Points: 05:03 Nurse-Led Innovation at Duke 11:03 Strategic Transformation and Mergers 19:04 Balancing Patient Care and Innovation 24:22 Advice for Early Career Clinicians 27:08 Speed Round and Closing Remarks X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
This week's cybersecurity roundup covers three critical healthcare security developments. Microsoft patched an actively exploited SharePoint zero-day vulnerability (CVE-2024-38023) that allows attackers with basic permissions to execute remote code and pivot through networks. Two major dermatology practice breaches - Mount Laurel Dermatology and Anne Arundel Dermatology - exposed over 1.9 million patient records through third-party vendor compromises, highlighting the risks of business associate agreements. Plus, cybersecurity expert Paul Conley challenges the healthcare industry's reliance on annual training and phishing simulations, advocating for personalized, continuous human risk management approaches that build actual cyber culture rather than just checking compliance boxes.Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Matt Dun left school at 17 to join the Australian navy as a submariner and later finished his high school certificate as an adult attending TAFE at night.He then trained in biomedical science and was researching childhood leukaemia when his family received some devastating news, their little daughter Josie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer.Matt turned all his energy and expertise into searching for treatments to help Josie and other children like her.He found running was one thing that helped him cope with the stress and pain of his daughter's illness, and with his wife founded the charity, RUN DIPGFurther informationThe charity founded by Matt and Phoebe Dun is RUN DIPGFind out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.This episode of Conversations was produced by Jen Leake, executive producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores childhood brain cancer, biomedical science, grief, family, DIPG, drug trials, research, submarines, the Australian Navy, running.
July 23, 2025: Michael Vipond, Head of Healthcare Provider GTM at ServiceNow, discusses everything from the basics to the cutting edge of AI. As health systems face mounting pressure from Medicare cuts and operational costs, how do leaders navigate the difference between traditional automation and the emerging world of agentic AI? Michael reveals how AI agents are already handling IT incidents and care team requests, but warns that simply layering AI onto broken processes won't deliver transformation. With healthcare drowning in spreadsheets and administrative tasks, what are the practical steps CIOs can take today while building toward a long-term AI strategy? The conversation uncovers specific examples of AI reducing administrative burden and explores the critical foundation work—from data quality to governance—that health systems need to get right before AI can truly amplify human connection in patient care. Key Points: 02:54 Understanding Agentic AI 07:04 AI Use Cases and Benefits 11:01 Governance and Implementation of AI 20:33 Future of AI in Healthcare X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 22, 2025: Charles Christian, VP of Technology and CTO at Franciscan Health, joins Nayan Patel, SVP of FinThrive, to discuss their healthcare innovation lab and supporting clinicians. What happens when a tech giant realizes it can't just provide a platform but must become a true partner in life-safety systems? Charles reveals how Franciscan's tech innovation lab uses donated equipment and a "fail fast" approach to test everything from ambient listening to virtual care solutions before rolling them out. How do you balance innovation with the reality that clinical staff expect technology to work seamlessly? The conversation explores application rationalization strategies that eliminated over 150 redundant systems and the ongoing challenge of measuring ROI when reimbursement rules constantly shift. Key Points: 03:49 Challenges and Solutions in Cloud Migration 07:17 Tech Innovation Lab and Pilot Projects 17:23 Application Rationalization and Cost Management 23:14 Final Thoughts and Fun Questions X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
This episode explores AI-generated music and cybersecurity through the story of The Velvet Sundown, a completely synthetic band that fooled millions on Spotify. Drex examines how AI-generated music, voices, and images can deceive audiences, YouTube's new monetization policies for AI content, and the growing challenge of distinguishing authentic from synthetic media. Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 21, 2025: Amie Teske, Founder and CEO of Echelon, joins Sarah to discuss how she is shifting the landscape of sales. Amie discusses the realities of solo practitioner work, from pricing your expertise to maintaining sanity without a traditional corporate structure. How has institutional investment reshaped the sales landscape, and what does it take to create genuine peer communities for high-performing salespeople? The conversation explores the challenges of monetizing networks authentically, the art of matching experienced professionals with startups, and why accountability becomes both harder and more critical when you're on your own. Key Points: 05:14 Navigating the Gig Economy and Solo Practitionership 12:19 Valuing Your Time and Setting Rates as a Consultant 17:58 Challenges and Solutions in Sales Leadership 23:56 Building Confidence in Sales 31:02 Speed Round: Fun and Personal Questions X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 21, 2025: Josh Tacey, Enterprise Architect at Omnissa, joins Bill for the news. They discuss all things HIPAA security-related as the refinement process continues to advance. The conversation centers on the controversial 72-hour business continuity requirement—can health systems really restore operations within three days when current ransomware recoveries take weeks? Josh explores whether mandated network segmentation actually helps attackers by providing a standard blueprint, and why Active Directory remains every hacker's primary target. Key Points: 01:46 HIPAA Security Rule Issues 07:52 Challenges in Network Segmentation 10:58 Access Control and Vulnerability Patching 18:20 Architectural Practices in Healthcare News Articles: HIPAA Security Rule X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 17, 2025: Chris Harper, CIO and Senior Associate Vice Chancellor of AI at the University of Kansas Medical Center, discusses the nuances of AI governance. Chris discusses why he'd rather be "a pro than a hero" and how this philosophy shapes his collaborative leadership style in implementing AI solutions. They explore his organization's strategic technology bets over two decades, from meaningful use to data analytics to AI automation, and reveal how building trust with clinical partners has become the foundation for successful innovation. Through insights on governance across multiple organizational structures and his "move fast and be responsible" methodology, Chris offers practical wisdom for healthcare leaders preparing for what he sees as a paradigm shift in how technology will reshape the industry. Key Points: 03:55 Governance and Decision Making 10:33 Leadership and Team Collaboration 21:37 Disparities in Rural Areas 27:01 Challenges for Healthcare CIOs 30:01 Speed Round and Closing Remarks X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 16, 2025: Aaron Neinstein, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Notable Health, explores breaking down the barriers to the patient experience with AI. The conversation examines the human side of AI implementation and how leaders can address workforce fears while ensuring automation enhances rather than replaces care delivery. How do you shift from thinking about AI as labor replacement to embracing what Neinstein calls "scalable privilege"—democratizing access to high-quality healthcare for everyone? This episode unpacks the operational friction driving healthcare worker burnout and presents a practical vision for how intelligent automation can bridge the gap between what care providers want to deliver and what the current system allows. Key Points: 05:57 Customer Innovations and Success Stories 13:12 Enterprise-Level Transformation 16:05 Organizational Change Management 25:11 Speed Round Questions X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
In this episode, Drex covers three critical healthcare cybersecurity developments. Cyber attackers are shifting focus from hospitals to smaller physician practices and specialty groups that lack robust defenses, with attacks now directly targeting EHRs and patient portals at the point of care. The May 2025 breach report shows 45 healthcare providers reported breaches in a single month, primarily through network server attacks and unauthorized email access. Finally, healthcare organizations are rushing into AI implementation without proper data governance, creating amplified risks when pulling in massive datasets without understanding ownership and consent structures.Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 14, 2025: Kevin Day, CTO at Rhapsody, joins Drex for the news. While 96% of healthcare executives say they're ready for digital health solutions, two-thirds still battle interoperability challenges that create real patient care problems. Kevin and Drex bring up an alarming trend: 28 healthcare breaches affecting over 5 million people in June 2025, with attack vectors evolving from phishing emails to unpatched third-party software. Kevin discusses how AI might solve duplicate patient record problems while revealing why the soft underbelly of healthcare cybersecurity may not be where most organizations think it is. Key Points: 03:59 The Impact of Duplicate Records 06:00 AI and Data Management Solutions 08:14 Mergers and Acquisitions in Healthcare 13:43 HHS Breach Reports News Articles: Vast Majority of Healthcare Execs Embrace Digital Despite Interoperability Hurdles, Says MIT 25 hospital M&As finalized in 2025 HSS Breach Report X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 11, 2025: Mick Coady, CTO at Armis, tackles a problem that has been haunting healthcare IT for decades: you can't protect what you don't know you have. The conversation reveals how hospitals still rely on manual processes to track everything from IV pumps to imaging equipment, often discovering critical vulnerabilities only when it's too late. What's the real cost when imaging machines sit idle, losing over $26,000 per hour, or when "good" IV pumps hide in closets while staff struggle with failing equipment? The discussion explores how healthcare teams can finally move beyond overwhelming alert fatigue to focus on what truly threatens patient care. Key Points: 02:55 Challenges in Medical Device Security 08:53 Business Context and Risk Management 11:16 Asset Lifecycle and Utilization 13:51 Real-World Examples and Stories X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 10, 2025: Christopher Scanzera, Interim CIO at Lurie Children's Hospital, and Judy Kirby, Executive Recruiter at Kirby Partners, join Bill for a discussion around interim roles. With 53% of sitting healthcare CIOs having been in their roles for only three years, what Bill dubs “the great CIO musical chairs,” the conversation dives into the critical differences between interim and permanent leadership roles. What unique qualities does an interim leader need to succeed when they have just weeks, not months, to build relationships and drive results? The conversation explores what it really takes to transition from interim to permanent leadership in today's rapidly evolving technology landscape. Key Points: 01:21 The Interim Leadership Landscape 07:24 Building Organizational Alignment 25:11 Compensation and Workload for Interim CIOs 28:40 Preparing for Full-Time CIO Role X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Drex covers three major cybersecurity developments impacting healthcare: the expanding North Korean remote worker infiltration scheme targeting US companies with stolen identities and deepfakes, a cyberattack on medical device manufacturer Monic that disrupted critical supply chains, and the suspicious shutdown of Hunter's International ransomware group offering free decryption tools. Essential insights for healthcare organizations on hiring security, supply chain vulnerabilities, and evolving ransomware tactics. Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 9, 2025: Todd Barton, AVP, Enterprise Sales Engineering at Rubrik, and PV SubbaRao, SVP of Global Healthcare and Life Sciences from Rackspace, reveal how they're revolutionizing healthcare's approach to cyber resilience through their groundbreaking partnership. The conversation delves deep into the concept of Isolated Recovery Environments (IRE) and the "Minimum Viable Hospital" - but what exactly does it mean to operate at bare minimum while maintaining patient care, and how do you determine what systems are truly essential when every second counts? As healthcare organizations grapple with doing more with less, these experts explore how proper cyber recovery planning can actually unlock 20-25% cost savings that can be reinvested into the innovations hospitals need. Key Points: 05:04 Preemptive Recovery 10:21 Minimum Viable Hospital and IRE 20:21 Cost and Productivity Optimization X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 7, 2025: Mick Coady, CTO at Armis, joins Drex for the news. This episode examines a sobering milestone: the first confirmed patient death directly attributed to a ransomware attack on London's blood distribution system. The conversation explores how a single cyber incident creates cascading effects across entire healthcare networks, flooding neighboring hospitals with redirected patients and overwhelming emergency departments. With 28 healthcare security incidents reported in June alone—many involving third-party vendors—the discussion questions whether the industry fully understands how interconnected systems create compounding vulnerabilities. From agricultural equipment with satellite connectivity to medical devices running outdated firmware, every connected endpoint represents a potential entry point for attackers. Key Points: 01:43 Ransomware Attack Leads to Patient Death 06:10 Rural Healthcare During Cyber Attacks 09:11 Third-Party Risks in Cybersecurity 10:29 Cybersecurity in Agriculture and Implications News Articles: Ransomware attack contributed to patient's death, says Britain's NHS HHS Breach Portal College students hacked into tractors. Manufacturers wanted them to do it X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
July 3, 2025: Alan Smith, SVP and CIO of Lifepoint Health, joins Bill for a discussion on the top challenges facing CIOs. How do you balance immediate system stability when your organization is built through constant acquisitions? Al discusses his approach to the "CIO escape room" scenarios that define modern healthcare IT, from major partner outages to the ongoing tension between cloud-first strategies and financial realities. As healthcare organizations grapple with cost pressures while demanding more from their IT departments, Alan reveals how LifePoint navigates these competing forces and what it takes to build resilient systems in an industry where failure isn't an option. Key Points: 04:57 CIO Escape Room 14:14 The Importance of Inquisitiveness 17:31 Strategies in Virtual Leadership 26:12 Advice for Future Healthcare IT Leaders X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Drex covers three critical cybersecurity developments: Expo's groundbreaking AI-powered penetration testing system dominates HackerOne with over 1,000 vulnerabilities found, Microsoft redesigns the iconic Blue Screen of Death after 40 years, and the Scattered Spider ransomware group pivots from insurance to airline industry attacks using advanced social engineering and deepfakes.Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
In this episode, Therese Markow interviews Dr. Shaina Stacy about her studies on cancer risks in children depending upon the body mass index (BMI) of their mothers before and during pregnancy. Dr. Stacy explains how she obtained a sample of nearly 2 million mother-child pairs in the state of Pennsylvania, the largest sample size ever for such a study. They discuss how children of women with a BMI of over 30 when pregnant had a significantly higher risk of cancers compared to children of lean mothers. This was notable for leukemia in children under 5, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The mechanism underlying the increased risk is not yet known. Key Takeaways: Maternal obesity before and during pregnancy increases the risk of cancers in children under 5 years of age. The risk of leukemia, especially acute lymphoblastic leukemia or ALL, is the greatest. Children of white, educated women, if obese during pregnancy, have the highest risk. Transgenerational effects of obesity are becoming more apparent. "We found that children born to mothers in our highest BMI category had over 30% higher risk of developing any type of childhood cancer." — Dr. Shaina Stacy Connect with Dr. Shaina Stacy: Scientific American Blog Post: Cancer Prevention Should Start before Birth - https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/cancer-prevention-should-start-before-birth/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaina-stacy-0664962b/ Connect with Therese: Website: www.criticallyspeaking.net Threads: @critically_speaking Email: theresemarkow@criticallyspeaking.net Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.
July 1, 2025: Sue Schade, Principal at StarBridge Advisors, sits down with Brian Sterud, VP of IT, CIO, and CISO of Faith Regional Health Services. Brian tackles a pressing question facing healthcare leaders today: how do we regulate AI without killing innovation? His perspective on finding the right balance between safety and progress offers valuable insights as the industry navigates uncharted territory. The conversation reveals how rural health systems face unique operational challenges, from patients driving three hours for care to IT staff covering vast geographic territories. Brian shares details about an innovative college partnership program designed to address workforce shortages by combining education with hands-on experience. Key Points: 01:38 Challenges of a Rural Health System 06:11 Balancing CIO and CISO Roles 08:02 Addressing Workforce Challenges 13:05 Navigating Regulatory Challenges X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 30, 2025: George Pappas, CEO of Intraprise Health by Health Catalyst, joins Drex for the news. They discuss a new H-ISAC white paper and the North Korean catfish issues, speculating on how you can verify identity in a world of AI. Can AI solve the very problems it creates? The most revealing discussion centers on a startling industry survey: nearly half of security leaders now spend more time babysitting their tools than actually defending their organizations. Join the discussion around whether our approach to cybersecurity has become counterproductive. Key Points: 01:29 AI and Digital Identity in Cybersecurity 10:56 Nationwide Recovery Services Breach 17:36 Survey Insights: Tool Management 22:01 Cybersecurity Risks to Business Language News Articles: Artificial Intelligence and Digital Identity: A CISO's Guide to Implementing Advanced Technologies to Fight Cyber Attacks and Fraud UChicago Medicine breaks ties with vendor after data breach Global State of Security Report Reveals Critical Need for Connected Security Operations X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
In this heartfelt episode, Catherine Jones joins Chris McCurley to share the powerful story of her son Hudson and the faith that has carried their family through incredible challenges. Catherine opens up about the emotional and spiritual journey they've faced, and how God's presence has been evident in both the highs and the lows. This conversation is a moving reminder of the strength found in trusting God through life's most difficult trials. Connect with Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dearchurch_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564673680147 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DearChurch Website: https://www.rippleoflight.org/ ROL Facebook: http://facebook.com/rippleoflight ROL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rippleoflight ROL YouTube: http://youtube.com/rippleoflight ROL Rumble: http://rumble.com/rippleoflight Have a question? Email Chris at chris.mccurley@rippleoflight.com. #HudsonsStory #FaithInTrials #DearChurchPodcast #Leukemia #ChristianParenting #HopeInChrist #Testimony #ChildhoodCancer #ChrisMcCurley #ChristianPodcast
June 26, 2025: Michael Han, MD, Enterprise CMIO and VP of MultiCare Health System, discusses his transition from the operating room to the boardroom. He argues that the path forward isn't through automating clinical decisions, but through revolutionizing call centers, scheduling, prior authorizations, and referrals. Michael reveals how ambient clinical documentation must evolve beyond simple note-taking into a treasure trove of unstructured data that can drive actions across the entire care continuum—from pre-visit chart preparation to post-visit care coordination. The conversation explores how leaders establish credibility as they transition from the operating room to the boardroom. Key Points: 02:43 Impact of Ambient Clinical Documentation 05:51 AI and Large Language Models in Healthcare 10:27 The Role of CMIO in Digital Transformation 15:05 Leadership and Credibility in Healthcare 24:51 Speed Round: Personal Insights X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Drex covers three critical cybersecurity developments: Scattered Spider's shift to targeting insurance companies including Erie Insurance, Philadelphia Insurance, and Aflac using advanced social engineering tactics; escalating Iran-related cyber threats to US critical infrastructure amid Middle East tensions; and a massive dark web leak exposing 1.6 billion login credentials. Don't miss these actionable security recommendations including reviewing password reset processes, implementing strong authentication measures, and preparing for potential nation-state attacks on healthcare infrastructure.Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
When Laura's daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, her world stopped. What followed was a powerful journey through fear, resilience, and fierce advocacy. In this episode, Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree—a lifelong educator and now author of The Cancer Parent's Handbook—opens up about the most terrifying day of her life, how she transformed pain into purpose, and why parent-to-parent support is critical in the childhood cancer community. Her reflections are raw, heartfelt, and offer wisdom for every parent facing a medical diagnosis with their child.
June 24, 2025: Mathew Moss, SVP and CIO at New England Donor Services, joins Sarah to discuss the amazing stories and stubborn challenges in the world of organ donation. When hospitals process over 100,000 death referrals annually, how do cutting-edge systems determine which cases have life-saving potential? The conversation delves into the sobering reality that less than 50% of organ donors are registered, leading to hundreds of preventable deaths on waiting lists, while exploring how machine learning and real-time data streaming are revolutionizing a field where every minute counts. As Mathew shares the emotional weight of working with families on the worst day of their lives and the rush of innovating with technology that enables organs to be pumped outside the body for extended viability, listeners gain insight into a world where compassion meets precision engineering. Key Points: 03:13 Technology Integration in Organ Donation 08:30 The Emotional and Logistical Side of Donating 12:06 Community Outreach and Education 17:46 Future Innovations and Standout Stories 23:37 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 23, 2025: Chris Plummer, Senior Cybersecurity Architect from Dartmouth Health, discusses the realities of defending healthcare systems against sophisticated threats. Chris shares his path from childhood computer enthusiast to cybersecurity leader, including the surprising story of how he discovered a major Google security flaw that made national headlines. Why do over 6,000 hospitals still fight cyber battles independently when other sectors have found strength through consolidation? Chris and Drex examine whether AI can truly become the force multiplier cybersecurity teams desperately need, or if current limitations keep it relegated to assistant roles. From burnout stories to breakthrough moments, this discussion reveals both the struggles and innovations shaping healthcare cybersecurity today. Key Points: 03:19 Career Beginnings and Challenges 10:39 The Role of AI in Cybersecurity 21:46 Building Networks and Information Sharing 23:59 The Google Bug Story 28:20 The Blue Sky Viral Post X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
What if one wish could change the course of a child's recovery? In this powerful episode, I sit down with Dr. Jen Pratt, a pediatrician, childhood cancer survivor, and Make-A-Wish recipient turned advocate. At just 11 years old, Jen was diagnosed with bone cancer—a life-changing moment that launched her into a world of hospitals, chemo, and uncertainty. But her journey also included something magical: a wish. Jen shares her deeply personal story of receiving a wish from the Make-A-Wish Foundation and how that experience not only helped her cope during treatment but also inspired her path into medicine. Now, working at the very hospital where she was once treated, Jen sees firsthand how a single wish can uplift not just a child, but an entire family. We dive into: Jen's cancer diagnosis and the emotional toll it took on her and her family Her unforgettable wish to meet Disney animators—and why it mattered so much The Wish Impact Study and the real data showing how hope affects healing The misconception that wishes are just for terminally ill kids (they're not!) How Make-A-Wish brings light to dark moments—and why it's more than just a “nice thing” Heartwarming stories from the hospital frontlines The powerful role of mental health in medical recovery Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or simply someone who believes in the magic of kindness, this episode is a reminder that hope truly heals.
June 20, 2025: Drex dives deep into a chilling case study of AI-powered financial fraud. Learn how cybercriminals used deepfake technology to steal $5 million through a fake CEO video call, and discover why 90% of internet content could be AI-generated by 2026. Learn what to look for and where the threats are evolving in this episode of UnFake.NotebookLM podcast sourced from Eric O'Neill | Speaker, Cybersecurity Expert, Legendary Spy HunterRemember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 19, 2025: In this webinar re-run Jill McCormick, Co-Founder and EVP of Design and Product Development at Pixel Health, and Daniel Small, Vice President of Digital Services at Hartford HealthCare, discuss the process of creating a world-class patient experience. The conversation explores Hartford HealthCare's bold approach to reimagining digital and physical spaces, where defining the experience vision precedes technology decisions. Through human-centered design methodologies, they navigate the complex challenges of aligning stakeholders, excavating outdated technologies, and creating a "digital campus" that extends care beyond facility walls. Key Points: 02:55 Improving Patient and Provider Experiences 08:06 The Importance of Intentional Design 13:12 Aligning Vision and Technology 25:07 Human-Centered Design in Healthcare 43:36 Q&A and Final Thoughts X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Drex breaks down three critical cybersecurity developments healthcare organizations need to monitor. First, escalating geopolitical tensions suggest increased cyber attacks from Iran and allied nations targeting U.S. critical infrastructure, including healthcare systems. Second, Vanderbilt University Medical Center reports sophisticated Microsoft Teams impersonation attacks where scammers pose as supervisors to request urgent actions like software installation or payments. Finally, deepfake fraud attempts skyrocketed 1300% in 2024, with new "spoofing as a service" platforms making AI-powered voice and video scams more accessible to cybercriminals. Healthcare IT leaders should prepare defenses against these evolving threats and educate staff on verification protocols for suspicious requests.Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 18, 2025: Glenn Wirick, Chief Commercial Officer at Clearsense, explores how freeing up your data allows for a new world of innovation. How can health systems transform their bloated application portfolios while cutting millions in unnecessary costs? Glenn unpacks the journey from basic data archiving to creating unified patient records that power advanced analytics and AI innovations. The conversation examines practical approaches to application rationalization, sustainable governance frameworks, and how smaller health systems can leverage these strategies despite economic constraints. Key Points: 05:40 Legacy Data Management and Archiving 08:32 Clinical Impact and Data Governance 14:27 Data Sets Up Innovation 21:43 Future Trends 25:23 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
After a HIMSS conference presentation on North Korean hackers posing as remote employees led him down an unexpected rabbit hole, Drex unveils his new intermittent series "UnFake". Dive into a world of digital deception and synthetic media, as Drex sets out to help you the listener stay protected and discern fact from fiction in the increasingly complicated field of cybersecurity.You've Been Catfished: The New Remote-Work Employee You Just Hired Is Actually A North Korean HackerRemember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 16, 2025: Corina Clark, COO at Gardner Health Services and one of Becker's "COOs to Know," discusses her transformative journey as a leader in communal, equitable healthcare. Drawing from influential mentors who shaped her leadership philosophy, Corina discusses how equity must serve as "the lens through which we look at clinical decision-making" rather than just a checkbox exercise. She offers practical strategies for balancing operational excellence with personal sustainability, including implementing scheduled "no meeting zones" and leading impromptu zumba classes that reconnect her team to their core purpose. Corina's forward-thinking vision for community health aims to transcend traditional care models, reimagining spaces where prevention, wellness, and trust-building form the foundation of truly patient-centered care. Key Points: 03:47 Leadership and Equity in Healthcare 09:44 Operational Challenges and Innovations 15:42 Mentorship and Personal Influences 23:02 Innovating in Community Health 38:00 Lightning Round X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 16, 2025: Philipp von Gilsa, CEO of Kontakt.io, joins Bill Russell for the news. What happens when America's hospitals reach dangerous occupancy thresholds that could make them unable to function properly? And as workplace violence against healthcare workers spikes, what combination of technology and process can effectively protect staff? The conversation delves into the tension between technology capabilities and practical healthcare applications, questioning whether approaches to new innovations like AI are simply recycling the same discussions we've had about cloud and IoT in previous years. As healthcare leaders face these converging challenges, how can they remain focused on core priorities? Key Points: 02:22 America's Hospital Bed Shortage Crisis 15:14 Overpromising and Underdelivering 21:21 Workplace Violence in Hospitals News Articles: America's Hospital-Bed Shortage Is About to Become a Crisis Connected health needs more provider collaboration for better data integration AHA report finds workplace and community violence costs hospitals more than $18 billion annually X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 12, 2025: Jennifer Stemmler, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Adventist Health, opens up about orchestrating one of healthcare's largest EHR migrations—transitioning 28 hospitals and 400 clinics from a decades-old Cerner system to Epic. Guided by the mantra "on time, on budget, on Epic, on us," how does she maintain control without micromanaging every decision? When groups push back on standardization or value-based care teams clash with implementation timelines, what framework actually works to resolve conflicts? Jennifer reveals her benefits realization scorecard approach and discusses the real challenge behind any major transformation: how do you ensure the organization owns the change rather than waiting for someone else to save them? Key Points: 03:09 Strategic Planning and Key Objectives 06:25 Guiding Principles and Pre-Planning Phase 17:44 Managing Internal Tensions and Lessons Learned 25:56 Post-Go-Live Success and Future Planning 34:36 Final Thoughts and Advice for Other Health Systems X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
Drex covers three critical cybersecurity incidents: dual cyber attacks affecting healthcare systems in Lewiston, Maine; an AT&T database breach exposing 86 million records with decrypted sensitive data; and concerning backup management issues at login.gov that could impact government service access. The episode concludes with a practical reminder to test backup systems regularly.Remember, Stay a Little Paranoid X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 10, 2025: Reid Stephan, VP and CIO of St. Luke's, and Dr. Spencer Dorn, Vice Chair & Professor of Medicine at UNC, tackle the reality behind AI's promise in healthcare, exploring why only one in three clinicians actually stick with AI scribes despite the initial enthusiasm. As they navigate between "AI doomers" and "techno-utopians," the conversation reveals what's working and what isn't in current implementations. How do we avoid repeating the overpromising mistakes made with electronic health records? Cut through the hype and get into real solutions. Key Points: 00:53 AI Headlines - Fact or Fiction 06:01 The Human Element 12:27 AI's Near-Future Impact 19:49 Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 9, 2025: Healthcare organizations face an unprecedented challenge as potential Medicaid cuts threaten heavy IT staff reductions, but what if the real solution lies hidden in plain sight within their own systems? Jason Rose, CEO of Clearsense, discusses how "zombie applications" - applications that are neither fully alive nor completely dead - are silently draining millions from healthcare budgets. The conversation delves into the harsh realities of crisis governance models, the hidden costs of transition service agreements, and whether healthcare leaders are prepared to make the difficult operational decisions required in the days ahead. Enjoyed the Discussion? Dive Deeper with “How Application Portfolio Management Accelerates M&A Value in Healthcare” Key Points: 01:43 Zombie Applications 04:30 Mergers and Acquisitions 08:30 Cost Reduction Strategies 11:47 Real-World Examples and Case Studies News Articles: Leading Through the Storm: Functioning After a 20% IT Staff Reduction X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 6, 2025: Timothy Boettcher, SVP, Head of GTM Strategy North America for AvePoint, discusses the often-overlooked sensitive information spread across Microsoft 365 environments, particularly as departments independently adopt AI tools. Drawing from his experience across Australia, Japan, and the US, Timothy examines why information governance challenges continue to be the primary barrier to AI implementation and explores the balance between clinical innovation and maintaining necessary security standards. What does effective data governance look like when anyone can now create automated workflows through simple AI interactions, and how do organizations turn governance from an overwhelming challenge into a strategic foundation for their AI initiatives? The conversation is just beginning! Join the “Building Responsible AI in Healthcare” Webinar on June 12th for a deep dive into better implementation: https://carahevents.carahsoft.com/Event/Details/618554-thisweekhealth Key Points: 02:49 Introducing AvePoint 05:07 Chronic Data Problems 16:23 Change Management and Adoption X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
June 5, 2025: Bill Russell sits down with Erica Olenski, VP at Finn Partners and Founder of August's Artists, Ironman athlete, and board-certified patient advocate, who brings a unique perspective from navigating the healthcare system through hundreds of overnight hospital stays with her son August, a four-time brain cancer survivor. Why does a family with an extensive hospital history still get treated like first-time visitors at check-in, and how might HIPAA compliance be unintentionally creating barriers to human connection in care? The conversation explores whether patients should control their complete medical records to share with AI assistants, the reality of managing a 60,000-page medical record delivered on CD-ROM, and practical solutions like reimagining emergency department processes for complex care families. Key Points: 02:02 Erica's Son's Health Journey 09:08 The Role of Patient Advocates 13:41 Using AI as a Patient 21:54 August Artists: A Nonprofit Initiative 27:43 Rapid Fire Questions and Closing Remarks X: This Week Health LinkedIn: This Week Health Donate: Alex's Lemonade Stand: Foundation for Childhood Cancer
SDH asked Matt and Will Brewer and Dean Crowe from the Rally Foundation what advice they would give when it comes to people dealing with the day-to-day and the emotions attached to the situation and how to best approach it...
When Hilde Hinton was on the cusp of adolescence, her mother died. For years she protected her younger siblings from the truth about their mum.Despite the great grief of her mother's shocking death when Hilde was just 12 years old, there was also a sense of relief for Hilde. She shielded her younger siblings, Samuel and Connie Johnson, from the truth of how and why their mother died.But when Connie also died, decades later of cancer, Hilde was propelled into writing her first novel, in between shifts as a prison officer.Her debut book, The Loudness of Unsaid things, was intensely autobiographical.While Connie never got to read the book, Hilde's brother Samuel finally 'met' their mother through Hilde's writing, and learned all that his big sister had done for them growing up.Now, from her home in Melbourne, where people who need solace freely come and go, Hilde explores in her writing the ordinary things that make life extraordinary.This episode was produced by Meggie Morris. Conversations Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. Presented by Richard Fidler.This episode of Conversations explores mental health, suicide, grieving, grief, death, mothers, single fathers, bipolar, mothers with mental health issues, mental health hospitals, institutionalisation, prisons, writing, books, novels, siblings, Love Your Sister, nuns, Australian Story, childhood cancer.Further informationThe Opposite of Lonely is published by Hachette.You can watch the episode of Australian Story, which features Hilde's brother, Samuel Johnson, online at ABC iview.